US chemical shipment values drop for 11th month in a row

Lane Kelley

04-May-2015

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US chemical shipment values in March declined for the 11th month in a row, according to data released on Monday by the US Department of Commerce.

Shipment values for all US manufacturing industries in March fell by 2.6%, with total shipments of $482.19bn, compared with $494.94bn in the same month of 2014.

Chemicals ranked as the third largest non-durable goods industry in the US in March, behind transportation equipment at $78.29bn and food products at $65.67bn.

The value of petroleum and coal products, usually ahead or even with chemical values but now lower because of the plunge in oil prices in late 2014 and early this year, totaled $47.51bn in March.

The US Census Bureau separates chemical shipments into four sectors: pesticides and fertilizers; pharmaceuticals; petrochemicals; and chemicals used in paints, coatings and adhesives.

US chemical shipment values in millions of dollars

15-Mar

14-Mar

% chg

Chemical products

60,554

62,840

-3.64%

Pesticides, fertilizers

2,994

2,661

12.51%

Pharmaceuticals, medicines

15,123

14,986

0.91%

Paints, coatings, and adhesives

3,075

3,087

-0.39%

Petrochemicals

39,362

42,106

-6.52%

Source: US Census Bureau

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